— 71 — 



outwardly with green ; wing coverts white, forming a conspi- 

 cuous white patch, bordered below with black ; rump and tail 

 black, A conspicuous chestnut patch in the centre of the 

 chest. Sexes alike. The young are duller in colour and have 

 less red in the plumage. 



302. Sheld Duck. Tadonia cornuta (S. G. Gmelin). 



Tadorna vulpanser. Shelley, p. 281. 



Not uncommon in Lower and Upper Egypt during the winter. 



Length about 25 inches. Adult male, head and upper neck 

 black glossed with green, separated from the chestnut band 

 on the breast by a white collar; upper part of back chestnut; 

 lower part white ; scapulars, primaries, and tail black ; wing 

 coverts white ; bill scarlet ; legs and feet flesh colour. The 

 female is duller and less boldly marked, and the young resemble 

 the female. 



303. Ruddy Sheld Duck. Tadorna casarca (Linnaeus). 



Tadorna rutila.. Shelley, p. 282. 



Not uncommon during the winter and early spring. 

 Usually met with in small flocks. 



Length 25 inches. Head and chin buff ; upper and under 

 parts orange brown ; wing coverts creamy white ; flight 

 feathers dark grey ; a large bronze green wing spot ; rump 

 and tail lead colour. In the summer the male has a narrow 

 black collar. The female is slightly smaller, has a paler head 

 and never assumes the black collar. 



[Spur-winged Goose. Plectropterus rueppelli Sclater. 



This large black-and-white goose, which has a red casque, 

 bare red patches on the neck, and armed with horn-like projec- 

 tions on the carpal joint, has been obtained in Egypt on a few 

 occasions, but there is little doubt that these were all birds 

 which had escaped from captivity.] 



304. Mute Swan. Cygnus olor (Gmelin). 



Cygnus olor. Shelley, p. 278. 



An uncommon visitor during the winter in Lower Egypt. 



Length about 60 inches. The adult is white, with black 

 legs and feet ; bill orange with a black nail. The swollen knob 

 on the base of upper mandible is also black. 



